1. Essential Question:
What were the important characteristics of the civilizations in Mesopotamia?
Warm-Up Question:
Why was the Neolithic Revolution such a big deal?
Which of the 5 characteristics of civilizations do you think is most important?

2. River Valley Civilizations
The discovery of farming during the Neolithic Revolution allowed nomadic people to settle into civilizations

3. The world’s first civilizations all began in river valleys
The first civilization began in an area known as Mesopotamia
Class Activity: Examine page in your textbook “Environmental Challenges” generate 3 conclusions about the geography of Mesopotamia & its impact on the people of this region

4. Mesopotamia means “land between the rivers” & is often called the “Fertile Crescent” or as the “Cradle of Civilization”
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flooded once per year, leaving behind fertile soil ideal for farming

5. The first civilization developed in the Fertile Crescent: Sumer
But, surrounding deserts & the lack of natural barriers attracted outsiders to Mesopotamia made the Sumerians vulnerable to attack

6. What were the important characteristics of the civilizations of Mesopotamia?
Working in your groups, examine the chart “key traits of civilization in Sumer (Mesopotamia) on pg. 19.
For each trait, write hypotheses about government, cities, technology, etc. & then confirm your theories by locating the answer either in your textbook or using your devices (i.e. Phone, ChromeBook, etc.)

7. Hypothesis
A hypothesis is an answer to a research questions written out BEFORE knowing the answer.
The format for writing a hypothesis is…
“IF (describes what you will think before knowing the research) THEN (predict the outcome/answer).”
“Predictions of outcomes” should be specific. What will happen when???

8. Lasting Contributions
Advanced cities:
Sumerian city-states were protected by high walls
At the city center was a temple called a ziggurat

9. Lasting Contributions
Specialized Workers:
At the top of society were priests, and then kings
In the middle were skilled workers, like merchants
At the bottom, were common farmers & slaves

10. Lasting Contributions
Religion:
Sumerians & Babylonians were polytheistic
The Hebrews in Palestine were the 1st monotheistic faith in history (Judaism)
The holy book of Judaism is the Torah; God gave Moses the Ten Commandments which serve as moral laws

11. Lasting Contributions
Government:
Babylonian King Hammurabi created the first legal code
Hammurabi’s Code had 282 laws based on justice & retaliation (an eye for an eye)
The code had different punishments for the various levels of society

12. Lasting Contributions

13. Lasting Contributions
Writing:
Sumerians made the world’s 1st writing called cuneiform
Phoenicians simplified cuneiform to a 22 letter alphabet
Phoenician merchants spread the alphabet throughout the Mediterranean world
The alphabet influenced Greek, Latin, & English

14. Lasting Contributions
Technology:
Sumerians inventions include the wheel, sail, plow, & bronze metalwork

15. Closure Activity
Develop a “Hammurabi’s Code” for Prescott High School:
Your code should include at least 5 laws and consequences
Think about things that are important to keep order in a school